Vehicle ramp

ABSTRACT

A ramp for a vehicle comprises an elongated track with a leading end and a trailing end. The leading end engages a flatbed platform of a vehicle, and the trailing end engages a ground surface so that there is a slope between the leading and trailing ends when the ramp is in a first usage. The elongated track is constituted by multiple engaging elements. The elements are movable relative to each other so that the elements are capable of being packed in a stack to define a platform for a wheel of a vehicle. This permits raising of the wheel of a vehicle above the ground level. There is a hinge between adjacent elements, and the elements of the ramp are hinged at opposite ends for relative folding to permit for a stacked relationship about adjacent ends.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of prior application Ser. No.10/984,041, filed Nov. 8, 2004, entitled “Vehicle Ramp,” currentlypending, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

An apparatus and method is disclosed relating to use as a ramp or aplatform, and more particularly, relating to a ramp or platform for avehicle.

2. General Background

Some vehicles and trucks have a flatbed platform or rear cargo area intowhich All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) or other wheeled units and apparatusneed to be loaded. To solve this problem, different devices have beenpreviously used as a ramp that can run up a slope from a ground level tothe flat bed height. These are elongated ramps and are for a singlepurpose. Separately, it is often necessary to raise a wheel or pair ofwheels of a vehicle above the ground. These are also for a singlepurpose use. Different kinds of ramps are used for this second purpose.

The various uses of the ramps are not as versatile as possible. Thedisclosure is directed towards an improvement which seeks to allow rampsto serve multiple purposes.

SUMMARY

A ramp for a vehicle comprises an elongated track with a leading end anda trailing end. The leading end is for engaging a horizontal platform ofa vehicle, and the trailing end is for engaging a ground surface so thatthere is a slope between the leading and trailing ends when the ramp isin a first usage relationship with the vehicle. The elongated track isconstituted by multiple engaging elements.

The elements are movable relative to each other so that the elements arecapable of being packed in a stack to define a platform for a wheel of avehicle. This permits raising of the wheel of a vehicle above the groundlevel. This raising of the vehicle above a ground level is a secondusage of the ramp.

A lead member of the ramp includes two portions anchored to the track. Afirst portion engages with the leading element of the ramp in asubstantially parallel relationship with the track. A second portion ofthe lead member is angulated relative to the track of the ramp. Thesecond portion is for engaging on a flatbed of the vehicle when in afirst use. In a second use, this lead member engages with the stackedelements so as to facilitate permitting a wheel of a vehicle to roll upand onto the stacked elements.

There is a hinge transversely located between adjacent elements, and theelements of the ramp are hinged at opposite ends for relative transversefolding to permit for a stacked relationship about adjacent ends ofadjacent elements. The longitudinal direction is between the leading endand the trailing end.

There are generally two ramps in use with a vehicle. As such, there area pair of separate tracks. One track is for permitting the front andrear left-hand wheels of an ATV or accessory to be rolled onto a flatbedrelated to the vehicle. The other track being for the front and rearwheels of the right-hand side of the ATV or accessory to be rolled ontothe flatbed in the first use. The two tracks in a second use are forraising respectively left and right wheels of a vehicle.

There can be friction elements on a surface of each track. The frictionelements can be at least one of spaced slots or apertures, selectivelywith one or more ridges.

When the track is an elongated position in the first use, the elementsof the track are rotatable, in part, in a transverse axis relative to alongitudinal direction of the track to permit the second use mode. Thehinges permit the elements to rotate transversely and fold in firstmanner to be stacked in a packed relationship for the second use mode.The hinges permit the elements to be unfolded and aligned in anelongated manner and to inhibit folding in a manner opposite to themanner when the track is in the elongated longitudinal position in thefirst use mode.

Other objects and features of the disclosure will become apparent fromthe following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the ramp in the first operative situation elongated betweenthe ground and the tailgate of a vehicle. A pair of ramps is shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows a pair of ramps in the second operative position, folded inan inclined manner under two wheels of a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the ramps in the folded secondposition.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the ramp partly unfolded from thesecond operative position to the first position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view showing a stop in position on the ramp.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the ramp in the first operative position.

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of one of the elements of the ramp.

FIG. 8 is a sectional side view showing a stop in position on the rampin another embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a top view of one of the elements of the ramp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There are two ramps 10 and 11 for a vehicle 12. The ramps 10 and 11 areshown located on the tailgate 13 of the vehicle 12. The trailing ends 14and 15 of the ramps 10 and 11 engage the ground surface 16 in a slopingmanner such that an ATV or other unit can be wheeled up the tracks ofthe ramps 10 and 11 and onto the flatbed platform 17 at the rear of thevehicle or truck 12. Each of the ramps 10 and 11 are constituted bythree foldable elements, namely elements 18, 19 and 20 for ramp 10 andelements 21, 22 and 23 for ramp 11. The leading ends 24 and 25respectively of ramps 10 and 11 engage the tailgate 13. The leadingmember is anchored with the leading end of the ramp.

Each of the leading ends 24 and 25 include a leading member which is aplate 26 and 27 respectively. The plates 26 and 27 have a portion 28which is substantially parallel to the elongated line of the elements18, 19 and 20, and a portion 29 which is angulated relative to portion28 and can lie substantially parallel with the surface 30 of thetailgate 13.

With the ramps 10 and 11 extended in the sloping position the wheels 31and 32 of an ATV can be rolled up and down the ramps as indicated byarrow 33.

In some embodiements, safety chains 60 and 61 may be added to the ramps10 and 11 to secure the tire ramp to the vehicle when the in the firstusage of the ramp 10 and 11. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the end of thesafety chains 60 and 61 includes a hook 63 to secure the safety chains60 and 61 to the tailgate 13 of the truck.

In the extended position, the interface between 18, 19 and 20 are shownby lines 34 and 35, respectively. The interfaces between sections 21, 22and 23 are shown by lines 36 and 37, respectively.

There are hinge formations 38 between each of the elements 18, 19 and20, and between elements 21, 22 and 23. The hinge formations 38 areformed such that when the elements are in the extended position as shownin FIG. 1, the interface lines are an abutment, and each of the elements18, 19 and 20, respectively, prevent the buckling or downward movementof the ramp 10. The elements 21, 22, and 23 are inter-located or inengagement to prevent the downward movement of the ramp 11.

As illustrate in FIG. 9, the first element 20 and 23 adjacent to theleading ends 24 and 25 may have enhanced bars 70, 71, and 72 welded tothe bottom of the first element 20 and 23. The enhanced bars 70, 71 and72 add strength to the first element 20 and 23 providing the ramp withmore capacity. Additionally. other elements may also include enhancedbars.

As shown in FIG. 2, there is the vehicle 12 with tires 39 and 40 forrespective wheels. The tires are respectively mounted on a folded ramp10 and a folded ramp 11. The elements of the ramp 10 are shown as 20, 18and 19. Element 19 engages the ground surface 16.

For the ramp 11 there are the elements 23, 21 and 22 in the foldedposition, with the element 22 engaging the ground surface 16. Theleading ends 27 and 29 are formed so that they slope respectivelytowards the leading plate 25 and the leading plate 24 of ramps 11 and10. The hinges 38 permit for folding of the section 18 between thesections 19 and 20 for ramp 10. Similarly section 21 is folded betweenthe elements 22 and 23 of the ramp 11.

The hinges 38 are located at adjacent ends of the respective elementsand permit for the folding relationship in a transverse direction asfurther illustrated in FIG. 4. When in the extended position, theinterfaces 34 and 35 are in engagement to prevent further unfolding ofthe elements beyond the sloped relationship as shown in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the vehicle 12 can be driven so that the tiresof the wheels 39 and 40 mount the ramps at plates 27 and 29,respectively, and are mounted on the top of the elements 23 and 20 asillustrated.

There are also stop members 41 and 42 which are removable from theelements 20, 23 as indicated. Each of the elements has apertures 45 inspaced relationship with each other. The apertures 45 receive studs 43which extend from the stops 41 and act to position the stops 41 and 42effectively on the element 20 and 23 respectively. Each of the circularapertures 45 can have one or more ridges or protrusions 44 which can actas friction elements. The apertures can also be longitudinal slots 45arranged laterally across each of the elements 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23and the stops 41 and 42 fit into these slots. These slots act also toprovide a degree of friction to each of the elements as vehicle wheelsmove over the elements and there can be ridges provided. The slots alsolighten the ramp elements as is necessary. FIG. 4 does not show thecircular holes which are shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the stop members 41 and42 include bolts 50. The bolts 50 can be received through holes 80 inthe elements 20, 23 of the ramp. Use of bolts 50 in the tire stop member41 and 42 help to secure the tire stop to the ramp.

In the fashion described, the elements 18, 19 and 20 of ramp 10 arefolded in a longitudinal sense about the transverse or laterallyarranged axes. In this manner the ramp 10 can be more compacted asnecessary. Similarly, ramp 11 can be compacted as necessary by thefolding along an elongated sense about the different lateral ortransverse axes.

In other forms of the invention, there can be more or less elements foreach of the ramps 10 or 11. Different folding arrangements are possiblesuch that instead of the element 18 folding between the elements 19 and20, a more zigzag type of folding arrangement is possible, namely in theform of a Z or S format.

A lock member or handle 46 is provided to engage the elements 20 and 19so as to prevent inadvertent opening when the ramp is in the closedformation. The lock member 46 can be moved by unpinning the lock 46 fromengaging one or both mating formations on the side of elements 19 and20. The lock 46 is shown in the released position in FIG. 4. As such,the lock 46 traverses the intermediate element 18 when in the lockedposition.

Other hinge components or formations could also be utilized to performthe same function in other embodiments.

In some cases the elements can be folded laterally and otherwisestacked. As such, it can be possible to undo different elements fromeach other and reconfigure the elements with the stacked formation. Theelements may be rotatable about side hinges transversely directed on thesides of the track face, rather than hinges transversely across thetrack face. Movable or separable elements for each ramp permits for themulti-purpose use of each ramp. Interlocking of the separate elementscan provide the necessary degrees of stability for different uses.

While the apparatus and method has been described in terms of what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to thedisclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications andsimilar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims,the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so asto encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

1. A ramp for a vehicle having two different uses comprising: anelongated track with a leading end and a trailing end, the leading endbeing for engaging a horizontal platform of a vehicle, and the trailingend for being engaging a ground surface so that there is a slope betweenthe leading and trailing ends when the ramp is in a first usagerelationship with the vehicle; and the elongated track being constitutedby multiple engaging elements, the elements being movable relative toeach other whereby the elements are capable of being packed in a stackto define a platform for a wheel of a vehicle thereby to permit raisingof the wheel of a vehicle above the ground level, and the raising of thevehicle above a ground level being a second usage of the ramp.
 2. Theramp as claimed in claim 1, including a lead member, the lead memberbeing for engaging the ramp, and the lead member includes two portions,a first portion for engaging with the element of the ramp in asubstantially parallel relationship with the track, and a second portionangulated relative to the track of the ramp, the second portion beingfor engaging on a horizontal platform of the vehicle when in a firstuse, and in a second use being for engaging with the stacked elementsthereby to facilitate permitting a wheel of a vehicle to roll up andonto the stacked elements.
 3. The ramp as claimed in claim 1, includinga hinge between adjacent elements, and wherein the elements of the rampare hinged at opposite ends for relative folding to permit for a stackedrelationship.
 4. The ramp as claimed in claim 1, including two separateramps, each having a track, one track being for permitting the front andrear left-hand wheels of an accessory to be rolled onto the horizontalplatform related to the vehicle, and the other track being for the frontand rear wheels of the right-hand side of the accessory to be rolledonto the horizontal platform in the first use, and wherein the twotracks in a second use are for raising respectively left and rightwheels of a vehicle.
 5. The ramp as claimed in claim 1, includingfriction elements on a surface of the track, the friction elements beingat least one of spaced slots, or apertures, and selectively with one ormore ridges.
 6. The ramp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leading endincludes a leading member being an angulated plate, the angulated platebeing anchored to the track.
 7. The ramp as claimed in claim 1, whereinwhen the track is for an elongated position in the first use, and theelements of the track are rotatable transversely in part about atransverse axis relative to a longitudinal direction of the track topermit the second use mode, and including a hinge for permitting theelements to rotate transversely and fold in first manner to be stackedin a packed relationship for the second use mode and wherein the hingepermits the elements to be unfolded and aligned in an elongated mannerto inhibit folding in a manner opposite to the manner when the track isin the elongated longitudinal position in the first use mode.
 8. Theramp as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a removable stop member tobe received in an aperture of a top element of the ramp when in thesecond usage to hinder a vehicle from running past the end of theelement.
 9. The ramp as claimed in claim 8 wherein the stop memberincludes bolts to secure the stop member to the element.
 10. The ramp asclaimed in claim 1 further comprising safety chains attached to theleading end to secure the ramp to the vehicle.
 11. The ramp as claimedin claim 1 further comprising enhance bars on the bottom of the elementsto add strength to the ramp.
 12. A ramp for a vehicle comprising: anelongated track with a leading end and a trailing end, the leading endbeing for engaging a flatbed platform of a vehicle, and the trailing endfor being engaging a ground surface so that there is a slope between theleading and trailing ends when the ramp is in a first usage relationshipwith the vehicle; the elongated track being constituted by multipleengaging elements; the elements being movable relative to each otherwhereby the elements are capable of being packed in a stack to define aplatform for a wheel of a vehicle thereby to permit raising of the wheelof a vehicle above the ground level, and the raising of the vehicleabove a ground level being a second usage of the ramp; a leading memberincluding two portions, a first portion for engaging with the element ofthe ramp in a substantially parallel relationship with the track, and asecond portion angulated relative to the track of the ramp, the secondportion being for engaging on the flatbed of the vehicle when in a firstuse, and in a second use being for engaging with the stacked elementsthereby to facilitate permitting a wheel of a vehicle to roll up andonto the stacked elements; a removable stop member to be received in anaperture of a top element of the ramp when in the stack to hinder avehicle from running past the end of the element; enhance bars on thebottom of at least one of the elements to add strength to the ramp; andsafety chains attached to the leading end to secure the ramp to thevehicle.
 13. The ramp as claimed in claim 12 wherein the stop memberincludes bolts to secure the stop member to the element.